Integrated RF Photonic Front‐End Capable of Simultaneous Cascaded Functions

Abstract Integrated radio frequency (RF) photonic front‐ends are capable of ultra‐broadband signal reception and processing. However, state‐of‐the‐art demonstrations are typically limited to performing a single functionality at any given time, failing to meet the demands of advanced RF applications in complex electromagnetic environments. In this work, a novel integrated RF photonic front‐end that enables simultaneous cascaded functionalities with enhanced RF performances is introduced, representing a significant departure from conventional approaches. Specifically, the presented design can delay or phase‐shift signals within a selected frequency band while concurrently suppressing interferers in other bands, effectively replicating the operation of a conventional RF front‐end chain. Additionally, an on‐chip linearization technique is implemented to enhance the spurious‐free dynamic range and a low‐biasing technique to improve the link gain and noise performances of the system. This work marks an advancement in RF photonic front‐end design and expands their potential for practical applications.